Watchcase



July 23, 1929. A. w. WADSWORTH WATCHCASE Filed July 8, 1927 INVENTOR.Ag'ihur wwads'worl'h ATTORNEY.

Patented July 23, 1929.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR w. wAnsw'OaTH, or FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY, Assienoaro THE wAnswom'nWATCH CASE COMPANY, or DAYTON, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION or KENTUCKY.

Application filed m 8,

This invention relates to watch cases and more particularly to a novelmovement retaining means whereby the movement is securely held withinthe watch case without the use of the usual and well-known casescrews.

The objects of this invention are to provide sii'nple, eificient,inexpensive and easily operated means for securely holding a movementwithin a watch case.

The invention consists in the provision of a flexible or spring armmounted within a 'atch case with means in combination therewith forengaging said arm with the movement of a watch whereby said movement isheld within said case.

The invention further consists in the constructitm, combination,location and arrangement of parts, as herein set forth and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of thecenter of a watch case showing theinvention in stalled therein taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on a plane corresponding to line 2-2of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the expansible arm andadjusting screw.

In the embodin'ient of my invention as illus trated and which shows apreferred construction I provide a center 1 formed of one piece of basemetal and having its outer ends reinforced. by metal members or bearinglugs 2, 3, 4t and 5, respectively. The top 6 of center 1 is providedwith opening 7 within which a movement is adapted to be inserted.Heretofore it has been the practice in mounting movements within a watchcase to securely attach said movement to the watch case center (such ascenter 1 or other types) by the usual. and well-known case screws (notshown.)

To eliminate the usual case screws, thus elin'iinating the danger of themovement being placed in the center without fastening it thereto in theproper manner I preferably provide yieldable or spring arm 8 rigidlyattached near one end to center 1 in any suitable manner, as for exampleby rivet 9. The main portion of said arm 8 is shaped to conform with thecontour of the opening 7 of center 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, andwith the peripheral surface of the watch movement.

The free end 10 of arm 8 is provided with WATCI-ICASE.

19a. Serial No. 204,373.

hole 1 1, which hole receives the reduced end 12 of tightening screw 13.Said tightening screw 13 is received by threaded hole 14 in metal memberor bearing'lug 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of the invention is as follows: To install a movementwithin the center 1, all that is necessary is to place said movementwithin opening 7 of said center.

Then insert a tool (such as a screw-driver) within slot 15 of screw 13and turn in a clock wise direction, thereby advancing said screw withinthreaded hole 1 1 which causes the shoulder 16'o't said screw to bearagainst face 17 of yieldable arm 8 and, in turn, force the curvedportion of said arm tightly against the outer periphery of the movementwhich looks said movement between said arm and said center 1.

An advantage of this invention is that should it be desired to removethe movement from the watch case, all that is necessary is to withdrawthe tightening screw 13 slightly. thereby releasing the pressure of arm8 against the movement, whereupon the spring arm will yield outwardlyunder spring tension thereby releasing the movement for easy and quickremoval from the watch case. lVhen replacing the movement within thecenter 1, it is necessary that the arm 8 be tightly clamped about saidmovement. in order that said movement may be properly positioned andfirmly held. within the center 1. With the use of the usual andwell-known case screws for holding movements within the center of watchcases often times said case screws are emitted by persons tamperingwith, or fixing said movements, whereupon the movements are left withinsaid cen ter in a unlocked or loose position.

It will be understood that certain changes and modifications of theinvention can be made without departing from the scope or spirit thereofas defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in a. watch case of an arm having one end secured tothe interior of the watch case and having the other end adjustablysecured to the watch case whereby saidarm may be adjustably movedagainst the watch movement to firmly hold it in position or moved awayfrom said movement to permit the latter to be removed from the case.

2. In combination with a watch case, a

curved spring arm, means for attaching one end thereof to the interiorof the watchcase, a screw mounted in said watch case from the outside ofthe center thereof in engagement with the other end of saidspringwhereby the latter may be adjusted into holding position against thewatch movement or withdrawn therefrom to permit said watch movement tohe removed from the watch case.

3. In a watch case having a case center, an arm having one end fixed tosaid center and having a hole in its other end, a hearing lug on saidcenter having a threaded hole therethrough, and through the watch casecenter, a screwrmounted in said threaded hole and having a reduced endadapted to enter said hole in said other end whereby said arm may heforced tightly and firmly against the moval from the watch case.

ARTHUR WV. WADSW'ORTI-I.

